FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Osborne: (707)538-9442

INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS NETWORK NAMED FINALIST FOR GII AWARD

Honored for Leadership Position in Health

Santa Rosa, CA -- December 1, 1999 - The Interstitial Cystitis Network (www.ic-network.com), a locally owned small business, was recognized as a leader in the digital revolution today when the company was named as a finalist for a Global Information Infrastructure (GII) Award in the Health category. Finalists are recognized for their innovative use of technology to improve business and society.

The GII Awards, presented by Ziff-Davis will be presented on December 14 at a gala event in San Francisco, in conjunction with ZD Studios’ Nextravaganza conference which will feature Internet experts, visionaries and celebrities exploring the developments, challenges, and opportunities of the Internet in the new millennium in an enlightening and entertaining environment. The unique format of an established and respected awards celebration combined with a thought-provoking conference offers senior executives a rare opportunity to network with industry luminaries, to learn and to discuss the role of the Internet in their businesses’ future.

Business owner and key programmer Jill Osborne said "For a small company with modest assets to devote to our web site, we are honored to be in the distinguished company of our co-finalists, including the Mayo Clinic Health Oasis and the AIDS Education Global Information System (AEGIS). This award shows that web sites that focus on quality and in serving the medical community have a vital and important presence on the web. It also shows that smal, local businesses can create internationally competitive, reliable and vibrant web sites." Notable semifinalists this year include: Kaiser Permanente California, Growth House Inc., Netwellness, Pfizer for Living, Virtual Naval Hospital, International Diabetes Website, International Myeloma Foundation, the Hepatitis Information Network & others

"The GII Awards honor people in all areas of society and industry who use the Internet to create extraordinary results, from making money to making a difference," said James Hake, founder of the GII Awards and the Council for Internet Commerce. "The GII Awards are the world's leading forum to define, recognize, and promote best practices and new models in the application of Internet and network technology".

The Fourth Annual GII Awards recognize achievement in 10 categories central to the way people live, work and play: Arts & Culture; Children; Commerce; Community; Education; Entertainment; Government; Health; Netpreneur; and News & Media. Additional information about the GII Awards category finalists is available at www.gii.com.

For media/analyst registration for the GII Awards and the Nextravaganza conference, contact Jennifer McClure, manager, public relations, ZD Events at (650) 578-6996, or visit www.zdinternetinc.com and click on Nextravaganza.

About The GII Awards

The GII Awards program is a non-partisan, private-sector initiative sponsored by leading corporations, organizations, publishers and government agencies. The GII Awards program is dedicated to helping people reach new levels of prosperity, community and health in the Communications Age by learning from others whose efforts and accomplishments serve as models of excellence. Vice President Al Gore has described the Awards as "...an innovation that is important to our future." The GII Awards is currently the world's leading forum to define, recognize and promote best practices and new models in the application of Internet and network technology.

About the Interstitial Cystitis Network

Established in 1994, the IC Network web site was created by IC patient and Northern California support group leader Jill Osborne. After developing IC at the age of 33 in 1993, she became a support group leader in California. Her goal in starting the web site was to deliver critical support and information to patients who were too ill to attend meetings. One of the first health sites created on the internet, the ICN has stepped beyond the role of support to providing the largest free archive of IC related resources and on-line events in the world, including distinguished guest speakers. The ICN now serves 15,000 patients and medical care providers in 22 countries.

What is Interstitial Cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis (IC), one of the chronic pelvic pain disorders, is a condition resulting in recurring , often disabling, pain in the bladder and the surrounding pelvic region. The symptoms of IC vary from case to case. People may experience mild discomfort, pressure, tenderness, or intense pain in the bladder and surrounding pelvic area. Symptoms may include an urgent need to urinate (urgency), frequent need to (frequency), or a combination of these symptoms. Pain may change in intensity as the bladder fills with urine or as it empties. Of the more than 700,000 Americans estimated to have IC, 90 percent are women. These patients may be unable to work, unable to sex comfortably. 50% are unable to drive in a car comfortably.

More information on IC can be found at: http://www.ic-network.com.

An on-line press tour is available at: http://www.ic-network.com/tour/